Author’s On Craft Spotlight

Available on AmazonIt was a matter of beginner’s luck, but rookie detective Steven Quaid’s career and reputation as an elite investigator skyrocketed when he captured one of the most sadistic serial killers in Alaskan history: Stowy Jenkins, AKA the Snowman. But that was ten years ago. And now…Jenkins is back. Escaped from prison and on the move, his bloodlust is stronger than ever, and his methods of torture are even more horrifying than before. As his bloody rampage continues and the number of mutilated bodies mounts, terrified Alaskans increasingly doubt Quaid’s ability to catch the killer again. The detective’s reputation is on the line, and he’s going to need a lot more than luck, because this time, Jenkins is driven by more than the thrill of a random kill. This time, it’s more personal. He’s out for revenge…and his ultimate target is Quaid. In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Jenkins starts picking off the people in Quaid’s life…slowly, gradually tightening his circle of corpses and drawing ever closer to the most important person in Quaid’s life…his wife. Can Quaid do the impossible again? Can he outmaneuver the killer, or has the detective’s luck finally run out?

Murder Just Because by Yolanda Renee

MURDER, JUST BECAUSEExcerpt:

Coughing and gagging, she clawed at his arm while he dragged her to the bedroom, but he didn’t release her until he threw her onto the bed. With barely contained rage, he glared at her while she gasped for breath. “I learned a lot while I was in prison, Mother,” he said. “Now, I know what a sick, controlling bitch you are, but your tricks will never work on me again.” He spat on her. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re already dead.”

He put her hands into the cuffs that were already attached to her bed and then gave them a good yank to make sure they were secure. “I’ll sleep better knowing you’re incommunicado.”

“Stowy, please. I’d never turn you in. Surely you know that! You’re my boy, my son, my reason for living. I’d do anything for you.” A couple of stray tears drizzled down her cheeks, and she smiled at him. “Didn’t I do what you asked? Zeke and I got you out of that hellhole, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, in a plane that turned into a bomb. I was never supposed to survive that ride, was I? My guess is somebody rigged the engines. Somebody named Zeke, and I bet it was your fucking idea.”

“Oh, Stowy, you’re wrong. So, so wrong. I could never ever—”

***

Murder Just Because by Yolanda Renee

Juneta Key – Q & AMurder, Just Because Blog Tour

(What is your process? How does hunting for a serial killer differ from other types of detective work? Why serial killers?)

Thank you, Juneta, for hosting me today on your blog. We are in uncertain times, and I hope this silly, little book tour will give some of your readers a brief escape.

My process starts with an idea that can come from anywhere. For Murder, Just Because, the serial killer, Stowy Jenkins, escapes prison and is intent on revenge against the man who caught him, Detective Quaid. The plot was simple.

For the second book in the series, the idea came from a nightmare. But once the idea has formed, I simply sit down and start writing. A very rough first draft is my goal. Fleshing it out comes later. My goal is a strong beginning, action-packed middle, and a stellar ending.

I’ve found most serial killers require a more intense discussion because their motivations are so much different than the one-time murderer. Their desire to kill runs deeper. I want to know what that is, and I think the readers do too.

Stowy Jenkins has both nature and nurture to blame for his desires. An abusive, murderous mother and no conscience.

I write about serial killers because the study of serial killers is fascinating. And the back and forth between the killer and the detective, I think, makes for a more exciting read.

Although, I do use the one-time killer in my short stories. Murder mysteries based on the primary motives of greed, jealously, anger, and unrequited love offer their own unique plot lines.

Murder, in any form, and the people who commit the crimes always make for an interesting read if done right. I think I’ve done it right.

Murder Just Because by Yolanda Renee

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author YolandaRenee’s MURDER, JUST BECAUSE Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

The author is offering an awesome tour-wide international giveaway. Moreinformation on the giveaway is listed below.

“Whilethis book does contain explicit sexual language and graphic violence, it couldeasily be taken from the daily headlines. The content is plausible andrealistic as we look at the world around us. The events in the book are notoverly done but give a pragmatic look at the terrifying actions killers can andsometimes do take.”

It was a matter of beginner’s luck, but rookie detective StevenQuaid’s career and reputation as an elite investigator skyrocketed when hecaptured one of the most sadistic serial killers in Alaskan history: StowyJenkins, AKA the Snowman. But that was ten years ago.

And now…Jenkins is back. Escaped from prison and on the move, hisbloodlust is stronger than ever, and his methods of torture are even morehorrifying than before. As his bloody rampage continues and the number ofmutilated bodies mounts, terrified Alaskans increasingly doubt Quaid’s abilityto catch the killer again. The detective’s reputation is on the line, and he’sgoing to need a lot more than luck, because this time, Jenkins is driven bymore than the thrill of a random kill.

This time, it’s more personal. He’s out for revenge…and hisultimate target is Quaid. In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Jenkins startspicking off the people in Quaid’s life…slowly, gradually tightening his circleof corpses and drawing ever closer to the most important person in Quaid’slife…his wife. Can Quaid do the impossible again? Can he outmaneuver thekiller, or has the detective’s luck finally run out?

Author Yolanda Renee

For thosewho aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her in herown words.

Atone time Alaska called to me, and I answered. I learned to sleep under themidnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges.I’ve traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my mostvalued. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska has neverleft me and thus now influences my writing.

Thistour-wide giveaway is for a complete set of the Detective Quaid Mystery seriesbooks for one winner, paperback copies of MURDER, JUST BECAUSEfor five winners, and a Kindle copy of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE for10 winners.

To enter thegiveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow theinstructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed tothe widget.

Thanks forstopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what youmight find out. Do you enjoy watching a character grow from one story to thenext?

The worst thing about self-publishing: it’s up to me to do it!When my publisher folded, I was very lucky they gave me all the publishing files for each of my books so I didn’t have to start from square one. I got the covers, chapter headers, and formatted files for paper books and e-books. Everything! Because let me tell you, the publication process is no cake walk. It’s more like a cake pop–and if you’ve ever made those, you’ll know what I mean. At least it has a delicious ending–a yummy book!

Enough talk of sweets, I’m on a diet! I just wish the hard work of editing and publishing could burn some calories. If you want to self-pub you must have patience, diligence, and omniscience–meaning you have to know, or learn about, all aspects of publishing. Here are just a few notes…

Just when you thought you were done editing… Edit a few more times, then hire an editor. Another pair of eyes (attached to an editor’s brain) will spot mistakes you overlooked ten times. Editors are worth it!

Make a stunning first impression. Pay for a professional cover. But I know someone… Pay for a professional. But I can do… Pay for a professional. Worth it. And you’ll get to play with it as you create/edit the wrap-around. Not fun.

Challenging tasks: you will run into: indentations, alternating headers, the opening pages and info, table of contents, page numbers, using sections, acknowledgments, and many more little headaches no one thinks about. Read and research it before you just dive in!

Paper books and E-books are definitely different, but there are programs that help with the transition. I’ve published four of my six novels so far, before that I experimented with my UnPrincess novellas, so that was very helpful! This summer, I hope to finish re-publishing the last two and getting all the e-books done as well. Publishing is a tough racket, no matter which way you get there. But the more you put out there, the easier it gets. So keep writing!

Have you self-published? Got any advice?or any questions? I’d be happy to try and answer!

And here’s a short bonus scene from Broken Branch Falls… (edited for length)

“Someone’s coming!” Hope whisper-yells and runs past us back into the building.

Jordy panics, dropping everything, and bolts after her, locking us in. I knew he wouldn’t last.

If Argus and I get caught, we’re supposed to keep our heads down and act like janitors, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. I try to control my breathing and keep a cool head as we rush for the door.

The act probably would’ve worked if the dragons’ brimstone boy didn’t come in and yell at us.

“Hey! Why’s the fire out?”

Argus fumbles with the key and drops it.

In the bustle to get it, my hat gets knocked off, exposing my ginormous ears, and I see the kid’s eyes go wide.

I push him down, and we run for it. Hope and Jordy are nowhere in sight. The little squirrels.

We hurry back through the gate. The old-lady-elf ticket taker gives me a snooty scowl but lets us go in since we’ve got our band uniforms on.

While we play the next song to wrap up the first quarter, I keep an eye on the Dragons’ sideline. The brimstone boy rolls out the bin of heated stones and the players swarm around him to refuel. My stomach flip flops. I wonder if the kid figured it out. Or if the dragons will be able to tell what we did. After the coaches fire up the players, the horn blows for the second quarter to start, and both teams head back onto the field.

As they line up, some of the dragons start to cough and wheeze and pound on their chests. I smirk. It seems to be working, until the sneezing starts.

With each sneeze comes a shot of flame. The ogres on the field dance out of the way, but some get scorched or singed. They fall to the ground and roll around to douse the flames, while others smack each other to put out the fires. As the sneezing gets worse, whistles blow, coaches rush onto the field, and a hush blankets the crowd. The sneezing and fires continue, and a couple of blasts burst up into the bleachers. The fire spreads. Shrieks of alarm erupt from the fans who start a mass stampede out of the stadium.

Always on hand for games against the Dragons, the fire department and paramedics join the mayhem on the field.

Away from the action, the bandleader directs us to line up and leave in an orderly fashion. I cover my eyes and lower my head. Every time I peek, it looks worse. The game is ruined. Not to mention, the stadium. I just pray no one gets seriously injured.

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two novel series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She’s a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that… Make every day an adventure!

Taking Back Beast World Tara Tyler Self-Pub Notes +Flash Fiction

Five Fun Facts About the Author J.Q. Rose

1. Fun fact. I like potato chips dipped in ketchup accompanied by a cold glass of chocolate milk.2. Fun fact. I kicked up my heels as a hobo from Hooverville in the chorus line of the community players’ production of Annie. So much fun and a dream fulfilled.3. Fun fact. I helped to build the ark. No, not THAT ark, silly. The ark is the centerpiece of the Ark Park, a playground for the community.4. Fun fact. In my bio photo, the red Mustang convertible was a surprise birthday gift from my hubby in 1995. Still drives like it’s new.5. Fun fact. My older brothers and I all played cornet/trumpet in the school band. They made sure to stand out on the front porch when I practiced at home so the neighbors could see they were not the ones tooting out those sour notes.

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories

Is the idea of telling your life story swirling in your brain, but the project is too overwhelming to consider? Life story teacher and published author, J.Q. Rose, can help.

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories by J.Q. Rose is a journal and a guide for capturing the moments that impacted your life–the happy, sad, funny and crazy times that shaped a generation. Family and friends want to relive your experience through your words.

Not into writing?

Silly questions that have nothing to do with your life are not in the book. Instead, the guide prompts you to remember details to develop a rich tapestry to share in single vignettes or in a collection. Take the opportunity to tell the familiar stories you have told around the family table, then organize and keep them just for your family and/or publish them.

Your Words, Your Life Story will help ignite and share your memories. You won’t be alone on your journey down memory lane. Receive support through the private Facebook group, TellingYour Life Story and Memoir Circle. You’re invited to join in to share stories, resources, tips, experiences, and memories.

Preserving the experiences of the past for future generations is important.

As they peruse the stories, they will wonder how you lived without a TV, a computer or microwave. The story of your life, the struggles, the joys, the accomplishments will be what the next generations understand. Your account will be a guide to help them through their own lives.

Start now to put together the vignettes that make up your life story and create a treasured family keepsake.

The workshops presented by J.Q. Rose have inspired students to tell their stories and realize how rich and full their lives have been.Review Snippets:—A lot of useful information—Yvonne–This class helped me to realize I haven’t wasted much of my life.—Sylvia–It gave me a chance to go through my life again and relive it.—Helen–I have some of the knowledge and encouragement to begin.–Carolyn

Within the pages of Your Words, Your Life Story you will find:

Larger print

No silly questions

An easy way to begin

Ways to spark memories

Exercises for you to recall your life stories

Inspiring quotations to motivate you to keep going

Lined journal pages to jot down memories

Information on storytelling

Links to sites for submitting your story

Links to sites for telling your story via writing, audio and/or video

Order your book now to preserve your legacy and pass your life stories to the next generations.

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories

About J. Q. Rose

Non-fiction Bio J.Q. Rose, published author of mysteries and romance, enjoys offering tips and support to writers. She invites you to visit the Focused on Story blog at http://www.JQRose.com and discover inspiring and informative guest authors and information on writing, marketing, and publishing. Romance and Mystery Authors on Writing is a compilation of writing tips plus from fifteen talented authors. Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening: Starting Your Garden, co-authored with her husband, Gardener Ted, was an Amazon best-seller.

Held annually the first week of March we’ll end with a bang on International Women’s Day. The next event will be online March 2-8, 2020 but you must register to access. The Summit is a combination of guest expert interviews, panel discussions, tutorial presentations, and LIVE interviews, run completely online that you can enjoy from your phone, computer, or tablet.

For the 2020 conference and be sure to check out the following presentations if this is of interest to you:

E. Danielle Butler: The Importance of Representation in Publishing

Lois Strachan: Representation in books, and sharing your story to help others feel less marginalized

“I don’t think this is about silencing writer’s voices, but more about giving Mexican authors a voice of their own without having someone else take it from them and tell their stories. I am a Mexican immigrant, and it is frustrating to see how little representation we have in the publishing industry. It’s like me writing about someone else’s struggles without having any idea about their culture or the dynamics in their lives.“

Search This Site

My Ko-fi button

BUY ME A COFFEE!
Looking for a way to show your appreciation and encouragement? You can always buy me a coffee.
The price of a coffee helps me keep this site running, create entertaining content, inform, book expenses, and help showcase others. It also helps with unexpected or extra writing expenses that tend to crop up. Thank you for your support!

');
kofiwidget2.draw();

Writer’s Gambit News!

Stay updated.
Get a Bonus Short Story to Download when you join the newsletter.

NEWEST RELEASE: Grumpy Old Gods Volume 3!

The Grumpy Old Gods are back in a delightfully spooky edition, volume 3.
Sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, almost always grumpy, cranky, or cantankerous, these modern renditions of aging gods and goddesses will enliven the season and leave you wanting more.

About Juneta

ABOUT JUNETA

Juneta is a native Texan living in Central Florida. She is hanging out with pirates, playing with dolphins and entertaining Grumpy Old Godsby story spinning, tale weaving, fate making, world-creating, mythology bending, star mapping, journey planning, fortune-telling with the power of words.

Juneta was a 911 Emergency Dispatcher for Police/Fire/EMT for 22 years in another life. You can find out more about Juneta HERE!

IWSG Goodreads Book Club

Writers and Readers,

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club is for writers to read/learn about the writing craft. We will swap back and forth between craft books and fiction books that demonstrate aspects of storytelling.

The Grumpy Old Gods are back in a delightfully spooky edition, volume 3.
Sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, almost always grumpy, cranky, or cantankerous, these modern renditions of aging gods and goddesses will enliven the season and leave you wanting more.